Visit South Bend Mishawaka welcomes new and old fans to the land of the Irish
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Football fans from across the Hoosier state and beyond will be driving and flying their way into South Bend in the coming days for Friday's big playoff game.
For some, it'll be their first visit to South Bend and Notre Dame.
Visit South Bend Mishawaka is making sure their first visit to 'The Bend' is a welcome one!
One big example are the three new digital billboards that read 'Welcome Irish Fans' on State Road 23 and S. Michigan in South Bend, but even that is just one initiative that first-time visitors and hometown fans will notice in anticipation of Friday.
"The idea that we can really roll out the green carpet, in this instance," says Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka.
Jarnecke says it's like South Bend's 'Final Four' or 'Eras Tour' moment.
He says the green carpet will be rolled out as soon as fans touch down in South Bend.
On Wednesday and Thursday, local hotels will receive 'goodie boxes' from Visit South Bend Mishawaka with decorations and handouts for fans; like pom-poms, coozies, handwarmer, and a Game Day Guide.
"From the time that you step off that airplane and are greeted by what's going to assumingly be endless balloons to different music to additional transportation and volunteers greeting people at the airport. . ." Jarnecke explains. "To the time they get to their hotel lobby then we'll have more balloons, and welcome banners, and items they'll need for a potentially snowy and cold Friday morning and afternoon tailgating."
According to Vivid Seats' Fan Forecast, preliminary data shows that fans are traveling 362 miles on average to go to the game.
Which means plenty of newcomers to leave a good first impression on.
"They're coming because of the University of Notre Dame, but we hope they come back a second time because of their experience in South Bend," says Jarnecke.
Between booked out hotels and short-term rentals and a boom in local business for bars and restaurants, it'll be a historic win for South Bend, no matter if the Irish win or not.
"To get this influx that we weren't at all thinking of, and what would have otherwise been a really, really quiet weekend going into a holiday, this doesn't compare," says Jarnecke.
Starting Thursday night, the South Bend cityscape will be painted green.
The Morris, Century Center, and Liberty Tower will be dawned with green lights and shamrocks illuminating the buildings, and the Saint Joe River lights will also be green.
The only bit of red for the Hoosiers will be on the Mishawaka water tower.